So this thought was inspired from the Anyone can join LOOKBOOK thread. I wanted to post in there, but it looks like that thread has already been beaten like a dead horse. I noticed, in everyone's outrage at LB becoming a public forum, that there were a couple of people attacking Hollister or Aeropostale. And my initial reaction to that is, well what the fk is wrong with Hollister?

Don't get me wrong, I love Zara and ASOS, and all of those kind of shops, and of course tons of high end designers. But up until recently, the closest Zara was about 60 miles away from me (thankgawd for online shopping). And its not always the most affordable, when you don't make a whole lot of money. Even with H&M and Forever21, while they have great, amazing fashion pieces - a lot of times the quality can be crap, and will only last a few wears/washes. Hollister/A&F quality is closer in line with Zara, but thanks to sales, is more affordable. While its not the most fashion forward store - it doesn't mean you can't find things there to incorporate into your look!

What do you think? Do you find yourself shying away from certain brands because they're not as "hip" in the fashion community? I go back and forth between buying tons and tons of stuff from Zara, TopShop, ASOS, etc because I while I want to be "cool" like the top bloggers, I still want to have my own individual style, and not ending looking the same as everyone else.

There are brands I don't like (eg. because their clothes are ugly) and there are brands I have a grudge against (eg. because they're overrated, associated with something I don't like, etc), but what really annoys me are people who unconditionally WORSHIP individual brands.

I agree with Cass, I don't like the whole brand-worship thing. I dunno, I guess it feels kind of cult ish.

My reason for giving AF shit is because they charge too much for things like ripped jeans and thin tank tops, and their stores smell pretty gross, not to mention it wafts into the nearby hallway of whatever mall they're in. I've also heard they hire people based on looks (many brands seem to do this, AA anyone?). As for Hollister, I've never been in one, but it looks pretty similar to AF, so I never bothered.

I don't like it when clothes say their brand names all over shirts. This applies to things like Hollister, Volcom, and other things. I have no interest in paying money for a name.

I also stay away from them due to price. I'm a college student. Although Topshop gets hype on LB, I live in the US, and it's mad expensive here. I went in once to the store in NYC, and almost everything was over $100, because it's imported. A crappy thin crop top was like, $50. I can't get behind that.

I occasionally buy from high end brands if I find something I like at a reasonable price - like some nice things from a BCBG Max Azaria outlet (usually outlets), or occasionally I have splurged on shoes, like a pair of Litas as well as a pair of shoes from Irregular Choice. I just bought my first piece from ASOS (just a pair of socks). However, I tend to stick to things like H&M or Forever 21 because they fit me well, and I've never really had a quality problem with anything from those places.

Anthropologie/Free people is another lovely place, though for a lot of what at least Free People sells, I don't think their quality also warrents their prices. I like their artsy look, but don't agree with spending a ton of money on a tiny lace vest. Sometimes I buy things there on sale, but generally anything I have from those places have been gifts from family because they know I like things from there.

Overall, I'm not going to flock to the places LookBook likes just to look cool - if I find an article of clothing I like at a brand name, and manage to get the money for it / want it enough, great. If not, I don't mind. I agree that individual style is more important that flaunting what you have from where. Just buy what you like!

Im brand biased to a point, but if I find something at the goodwill by american eagle and I like it, I'll purchase it. Does that mean I'd ever browse their shop? Not a chance. That doesn't mean I don't like their stuff, I just can't justify spending so much for something like that.

On the other hand, I would probably purchase something more pricey from the Express' store, or buy Kenneth Cole or Michael Kors new because the quality is great and will last me a long while.

I don't care where people buy their stuff from as long as the brand name isn't plastered all over it.I don't avoid places just because of the brand or buy certain things because of the brand, the brand means nothing to me.

But seriously brand names and logos on things are tacky and ugly. Even those chanel bags.

I haven't worn a brand like Abercrombie or Aeropostale in years. I refuse to pay $30 for a top that has their name splashed across the top. I'm a person not a billboard.

I also know that while I'm buying one top from a brand like top shop I can buy staples from my favorite thrift store or from Forever 21 or one of my favorite boutiques.

I don't mind in investing in handbags. All of my handbags except for the ones that I've made are from designers like Michael Kors, Coach or Juicy Couture and I know that those handbags will last me a while.

If I see something from Topshop or another pricey designer that I just have to have, will last a long time, and can be worn for more than one season then I don't mind paying the money for it.

We don't have those Hollister etc. American shops at all in Australia, but we do have surf brands, and those are similar because the brand name is all over everything. That's the only reason why I wouldn't buy at all from a particular brand.

Otherwise, though, I will buy clothes from anywhere as long as I like them and they fit me :) I'm a broke shift worker, so I buy most of my clothes from chain shops that most people I know wouldn't go near, or little boutiques in my home suburb where you can get heaps of cheapo stuff.

The only thing I spend big monies on is shoes - I once paid almost $300 for a pair of shoes because I'd saved and really wanted them. I wear the same shoes all the time though and I do a crapload of walking every day, so I think it's worth the money to invest in good-quality shoes that won't murder my feet :) wow that was an essay.